Making the Case
Photography: Timothy Thimmes
It’s always a good idea to have sparkling wine on hand in case Paris Hilton shows up at your place. One of my favorite fizzers is Flare Espumoso de Moscatel ($10.99).
Nothing is more versatile with food than a good Riesling, so I’d opt for Columbia Crest’s Two Vines Riesling ($6.55) with pretty pear flavors. Another versatile food wine is Vieille Ferme Rouge ($6.99) from the Ventoux area of France’s Luberon. It’s a sassy blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault — sort of a poor man’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Great for sipping with meats from the grill. Another excellent playmate for grilled goodies is Spain’s Agricola de Borja Borsao ($7.49). This Tempranillo blend is ripe with juicy jam and framboise flavors.
I’m a huge fan of Rosé wines, especially in summer on the porch. Sure, a bottle of Mateus makes for a snazzy candle holder, but for true Provençal flavor, I’d opt for Tortoise Creek Rose ($4.68). And while we’re considering summer sippers, how about a little Chenin? Ste. Chapelle Chenin Blanc ($6.99) is not only a good bargain, but winemaker Chuck Devlin’s Idaho wine is a perennial award winner.
With literally hundreds of Chardonnay bottles to choose from at the wine store, it’s tough to zero in on just one. So let’s pick two: one from California and one from Chile. Gallo’s Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay is hard to beat at $8.95. The oak is nicely balanced with flavors of tart apple, butter and vanilla. But maybe the best wine bargain I know is Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay ($18.87) from Chile. Hide the label from your guests and they’ll swear this is expensive French white Burgundy.
Gnarly Head Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel ($13.99) is made for BBQ. It’s an intense, peppery wine with yummy layers of cocoa, cola and plums. Another fun, spicy red — and this one’s great for roasted red meats or pasta — is Jacob’s Creek Shiraz ($5.46). Or, throw your guests a curve ball with Egervin Egri Bikaver “Bulls Blood” ($6.99) from Hungary — a terrific spaghetti and pizza wine. Finally, for an after-dinner sipper, invest a mere $1.99 in a bottle of Uinta’s Fourteenth Anniversary Barley Wine. OK, it’s not really wine, but we’ve run out of funds!
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